Low-budget production with sensational writing
This story has a lot of potential. It's just not perfectly executed. I think the production should be 40 eps to properly build up the story. The way it is, things seem to be abrupt, just like a comic movie.Some people call it low budget - I have to agree. That's how it feels for me. I wish they can remake it with more budget. Sometimes I feel like I was watching one of those mini-series- lots of sensational details and abrupt scene changes.
It has all the making of the vengeful mini-series but not so extreme:
1) Abusive relationships
2) Marriage for revenge
3) Sensational thriller cliffhanger at the end of each episode to hook the audience
4) Abrupt transitions and plot holes
After eps 23, this is the first drama that I don't like the FL. That selfish ruthlessness and self-confidence. Hopefully, she will have a redemption arc. It's one thing for female to be in control but another to be selfish and not considering her partner's feelings. Female empowerment doesn't mean women losing empathy and take control of others' lives without permission.
Wow, that little girl, Fu Ling Zhi, acts better than most adults. Her eyes are so expressive.
I am all for it being a feminist drama. But I feel the writer makes the FL appear be irrational, violent, and reckless to dramatize the events. That's not a feminist view. We can be logical, patient, take the high road, and empathetic. It's frustrating to see the ML (portraying that traditional ML roles) being her teacher, telling her to be patient and logical.
It's entertaining but I am going to lower my score because I feel that overall, when compare to other dramas like The Double, Love Like the Galaxy, etc ... it should only be a 7,5 value.
Was this review helpful to you?
I'm IMPRESSED
This drama is not perfect....There are much more aspect to be perfected, for as this kind of revenge story is not new. BUT and it's a BIG BUT (hahahahahaha not the two "t" s), I have watched until ep 10, I'm very much enjoy every minute of it even when I'm always at the edge of seat while watching it, crying sooooo much in the beginning of the ep 10 and it's so beautiful sisters story. TT___TT
I've heard that they did much research on the costumes in the drama, well.... I like it. The budget might not be the hugest, not the most glamours set-up, makeup, and settings, but it is money well spent. They show FL's dark past well enough to make me feel her emotions, rooting for her, and believing her story and pain, the actor played FL (Chen Du Ling) done so well. I like her so much, even when she played only a small role in Love Game in Eastern Fantasy as a mirror demon, I was already rooting for her career to blooming soon after this sensational role as Zhuang Han Yan. I cannot say the same with the ML tho, I still can't feel his emotions up till ep 10 (maybe later?). FYI, I'm not usually the type to watch episodes by waiting daily, last time I watched a drama daily was Blossom, JOL 2, The Double, and Love Like The Galaxy. I still can't get enough of this drama (The Glory), will patiently wait for this to come out everyday for sureeeeeeee. The story hooked me so bad.
For as the ending, I read in the comments people who read the novel said that it is a happy ending, but as for the drama nobody can never guess. I'm hoping it is indeed a HE, but I guess If a SE is inevitable and the only logical way to part ways with this drama, I think I can accept that. Just as long as they keep the plot moves as smooth as the first 10 ep. Not many delays, not many slow motions, not many plot holes, and not many illogical and outdated conflicts or responses from the characters. It will be enough for me to keep "ciayo"-ing this drama to peak its popularity.
I think this drama is another proof that a good drama will not always be the most expensive one; good crews, good script, good director, and good actors also play the part. Wish the best for The Glory!!
Was this review helpful to you?
Let middle aged women shine !!
I won’t go into the flaws of this drama that others have already pointed out - such as the implausibility of the FL’s character, the monotonous acting, or the distracted screenwriting style.Instead, I’m interested in The Glory's double edged sword: its treatment of female relationships.
The drama’s strength is, without a doubt, Haiyan’s relationship with her mother: the beautifully cast Wen Zheng Rong. The mother/daughter connection is first presented as a deep emotional knot waiting to be untied over thirty episodes. From her first frames in episode one, Wen Zheng Rong is the strongest presence on screen (with kudos to the costume and makeup department who went above and beyond the brief). Mother figures in historical C-dramas are often depicted as either wicked and cunning or self-sacrificing, willing to do anything to protect their offspring. At first, thanks to some intricate unknotting in the relationship between mother and daughter, it looked like The Glory might break from convention. Unfortunately (without going into spoilers), it was not to be.
The other strength of the drama - albeit a fleeting one - is the subtextual GL relationship between Hanyan and Chai Jing. I was really hoping that I could live in my self-deluded fantasy where they could pursue their unspoken romance while the ML/FL relationship took its lavender-scented course. Alas, my fantasy crashed out a lot earlier than I was expecting.
Which brings me to the flip side of the coin. Surprisingly, I don’t think the ML is the drama’s weakness. The FL/ML relationship is, for the most part, one of mutually beneficial transaction. The ML has red flags, but no more than the FL does. And he’s not the one who destroys the aforementioned relationships between Hanyan and the two key women in her life. The writers are the guilty party.
[Admittedly there is a tiny spoiler in the paragraph below]
The writers find pretexts to remove the FL from her two close relationships with women, leaving her isolated. Unlike the FL in Story of Pearl Girl, for example, the FL in The Glory has no commercial traits that would provide her with financial independence. And thus the historical setting matched with the plot-driven isolation means she turns to the ML as a source of material support (because it’s hard to pursue revenge without food in your belly and a roof over your head). The ML therefore doesn’t need to rely on coercive methods - such as the blackmail marriage trope - because the broader plot effectively does it for him.
When the FL goes on her spree of neoliberal feminist campaigning in middle episodes, it comes across flat and hollow. By this point in the series, the writers have forbidden her from developing deep women/women relationships (romantic or platonic) and unlike other dramas of this genre, she doesn’t even have a close relationship with her maidservants.
Honestly, I could’ve given this a lower star rating. Fortunately, the show is somewhat redeemed thanks to He Hong Shan - who is a delight, as always - and Wen Zheng Rong (100000%). If nothing else, watch it for her. She steals the show.
Was this review helpful to you?
Boring and poorly written
The worst historical drama of all time. I've noticed the dramas of late is more for women almost completely leaving out the male leads. This is not right or fair to our chinese male leads. This is not a romance drama and the focus is more on revenge. Neither of them have any redeeming qualities and they choose to remain that way. I stopped watching it because it was that bad. This is not what love is. Love does not treat each other like this. In the past the chinese movies hates on women, abused and raped them which why I stopped watching it. Now they going back to the abuse and misuse of women. Furthermore, I hate dramas where the male lead has been married before.Biggest waste of my time. How could a 17 year old without education and experience able to achieve what no one could was just too unrealistic. The script was boring and trivial. I wasn't entertained or interested, I lament the waste of my time. Script was not interesting or exciting though the cast was excellent in their roles but the series sucked. Shame on the writers for gross negligence failing to come up with something more intelligent.Was this review helpful to you?
overall
In my opinion, it was a really cool revenge drama that kept me hooked from the very beginning until the end. I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy it this much because I usually prefer lighter romantic dramas, but this one was surprisingly interesting and had a very unique vibe. The story was written in a way that made you feel all kinds of emotions at exactly the right time. There were scenes that made me feel extremely angry and frustrated, especially when I saw how unfairly some characters were treated, and there were also moments that made me smile or even tear up because of how beautifully they were portrayed.One of the best parts of this drama, in my opinion, was the OSTs. The soundtracks were really beautiful and matched each scene so perfectly that it made everything even more emotional and impactful. There were certain songs that played during the sad or intense scenes, and they added such a deep emotional layer to the characters’ pain and struggles. Even now, after finishing the series, I still listen to some of those songs because they remind me of the atmosphere and the feelings I experienced while watching.
Also, I have to say the actors’ performances were amazing. They acted so naturally and realistically that you could easily understand and feel the pain, anger, sadness, and inner conflicts of each character. It wasn’t just the main leads; even the supporting actors did a great job in portraying their roles. You could really see how much effort they put into expressing every small detail of their characters’ personalities and emotions. It felt like you were experiencing their suffering with them, and that’s what made the whole series feel so powerful and intense.
The only issue I personally had with this drama was that I wanted to see more romantic moments between the two main characters. Their chemistry was really good, and they looked so beautiful together, but I felt like their romantic development wasn’t focused on enough. I do understand that it was mainly a revenge drama and not a romance, but still, a few more cute or heart-fluttering scenes between them would have made it even better for me as someone who loves romance in any genre.
But overall, despite this small issue, I definitely recommend this drama to anyone who enjoys revenge plots with emotional depth and realistic acting. It’s not one of those boring series that you just watch and forget. It’s a drama that leaves a strong impression on your mind because of its storyline, strong characters, and the emotions it delivers. If you’re someone who likes intense stories with a bit of romance and amazing music, then I think you should give it a try. You might end up loving it as much as I did.
Was this review helpful to you?
Best supporting cast ever
The Zhuangs made me go through an epic emotional roller coaster during the entire run of this show. Chen Du Ling was fantastic! It did her well to be acting with such great actors in this set.Qian Shan Cha ke writes the most intelligent villains. They make the revenge in revenge drama glorious!
Was this review helpful to you?
Smart but Cold
I was actually fond of the character Zhuang Han Yan, who is beautiful and intelligent. I also enjoyed the dynamic relationship between Han Yan and her mother. The plot is quite intense. However, I think this drama quite lacks romance. It's a bit tiring to see the main leads hiding their feelings for their own ends and manipulating each other. Although the main couple finds happiness in the ending, I think the romantic relationship between the two was a bit lacking because this drama focuses too much on the layered and complicated plot intrigue.Was this review helpful to you?
Fantastic beginning to end
This drama is fast paced which I love. I love a political intrigue and I don’t find that there was much filler episodes at all, every episode was so good! And some unexpected plots that had me gasping tooXYL is not as bad as every says, he’s literally got the perfect face to play that kind of role, I think he was pretty good but there has been a few scenes where he did feel a little disconnected, but defo a lot of potential
CDL new fave c actress I think!
Was this review helpful to you?
Prepare for plot twists at every turn
TLDR; This is the first revenge plot I've watched tbh. Plot twist galore. Thinking back from the beginning, we've come a really long way.. Story seems too convoluted to me, and there are some parts where I feel like they did it just bc plot (and I’m not gonna go heavy sleuthing abt to see if it actually makes sense). It’s not bad tho. Okay but like the sibling relationship is strong in this one even tho they're assholes lol. Acting is phenomenal and not everything is as it seems.. This show by far has put in the most effort in their music bc each song complements each other, and the lyrics are meaningful to the character dynamics. I feel like it's underappreciated, and it really adds to the scenes. Worth a rewatch if you want to catch all the details you missed before bc there's a mystery aspect too.Story: There are some parts where I don't quite understand where the plot is, esp when it comes to the mystery. The romance part of it is reeeeally slow like it's mostly a revenge story, which is fine, but it keeps going back and forth like the relationship is going nowhere, and they're always on different wavelengths a lot of the time. But I mean, it gets better near the end. Some of the character writing seems a bit off esp w/ He Wenshen when the acting doesn't fit w/ his personality, but honestly I don't think it's the actor’s fault bc I've seen his better performances on other shows. There are also a lot of girboss moments that's def directed toward the audience.
Acting: At first, I had my doubts about the actor who plays the dad bc he was the comic relief from another show, and I couldn't take him seriously for like the first 10 eps but it grew on me. The fl's mother's acting is insanely well done like I feel the emotions through the screen. Tbh I just picked those 2, but all of the actors and actresses did an amazing job. The battle scenes are well-choreographed, and I think for the most part, it's all the actors and not stunt doubles.
Music: The bg music is so dramatic lol. I appreciate that the music focuses more on the lyrics, which gets overlooked a lot of the time, and it's so poetic..
Rewatch value: Honestly so much happens that every little detail at the beginning before everything starts going downhill might foreshadow a future event, and it's def worth a rewatch if you want to figure out the tidbits you missed the first time. But for me, I'm low on brain cells to try to parse all that info lol.
Was this review helpful to you?
Revenge Story Done Sooo Right!!!
This actually surprised me from the trailer I didn't think it looked that good to watch but I was pleasantly surprised. The trailer didn't make me want to watch it but decided to watch it based on some good reviews that were left.This Drama is mainly about Chen Du Ling's character Zhuang Han Yan and her being abandoned by her parents to be left with friends of theirs. These friends mistreated her till she was 17 and she makes her way back home to find the family she never had. She just wants a home but she comes home to a viper's nest where she really doesn't know what is real and what is fake but she does find out. There are so many twists and turns through this that I found myself just wanting to know what will happen to everyone next.
The first person I really have to point out is Wen Zheng Rong who played Ruan Xi Wen the mother of Chen Du Ling's character. This woman acted her butt off I have to say. I was blown away by her performance and the mother and daughter relationship between the two. She really deserves all the praise for the way she played this character.
This was also a really good role for Chen Du Ling I really enjoyed watching her play Zhuang Han Yan. Its also I different role for her to play and I really thought it suited her. I also wouldn't say this is a romance story between her and the ML there is very little to no romance but even though I am a huge romance lover I still didn't think that took away from this drama at all. Plus the way the had her and the ML lying and deceiving each other it actually makes sense that their love story wouldn't be a big thing in this drama. I still really liked what they did for their story. This is really a revenge story that has so many things happen. The villain is actually one of the best I have seen in a while and they were so smart with the way they did everything.
I also didn't think that the ML Xin Yun Lai was that bad. I think he played his character the way it was meant to be played. Plus the the little girl that played his daughter was also so very cute. This one at least deserves a watch before you decide if you like it or hate may surprise you, but if you are only watching dramas for the romance maybe don't watch this one.
Was this review helpful to you?
one of the most strategic leads ever
I’ve honestly enjoyed all plot lines of this drama, with both the leads being strategic and smart. It has bittersweet and touching moments and is a very realistic plot (no overly sweet ideals or unrealistic standards imo). I liked the pace and felt like it was engaging all throughout the story and didn’t skip any parts (which I usually do). The acting was great by everyone in this drama, and both the leads look amazing (individually and together). The main couple was slow burn—unfriendly or at least on guard against each other and took time to trust and love each other. After facing many obstacles and lots of planning, they helped each other. It was a very interesting and emotional story.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A drama done well!
It was perfect for me!!! CDL outdid herself in the glory, especially the supporting cast, which was outstanding and outdid themselves. Every story has its flaws, but in regards of revenge and showing the pure rage this drama nailed it. The male actor was amazing too! I loved the subtle romance and we weren't distracted from the main plot which was the revenge. It was a roller coaster of emotions. The ending was beautiful yet bittersweet. It ended happily except I see Yunxi standing with the deceased signifies something that maybe he will pass away later on. It's my opinion, but I am just glad we got a happy ending!!!Was this review helpful to you?
